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Caroline, a native of Waterford city, was born into a family with a love of music and stage and from an early age, Caroline herself showed a keen interest in music. She studies with Regina Hanley at the Waterford Institute of Technology Music School. In her early years, Caroline was Soprano with many Waterford City Church Choirs. When the Cathedral Youth Choir was formed in 1983, Caroline became one of its founder members. Her musical talent was evident, when after four years, she was appointed as the choir’s Musical Director. Caroline holds this position to the present day and the CYC is still going strong after 25 years.

In early 1998, Caroline became a member of the Janus Choral Ensemble. Their many recitals included performances at the National Concert Hall, Dublin; City Hall, Cork; Garter Lane, Waterford and at the annual Spraoi Festival in Waterford. The group recorded a CD in 2000, featuring many of its much-loved sacred and musical theatre pieces. She went on to be soloist and member of the Lumen Choral Ensemble. This group, together with Bowler Hat Theatre Company, performed a choral version of the musical Chess as part of the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera is 2002. The performances received much critical acclaim.

From early 2000 to late 2003, Caroline was soloist and narrator with the Waterford Show. The performances, which outlined the history of Waterford City through song, dance and narrative, proved very popular with visitors to the city.

In March 2008, Caroline performed at Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford. Her recital contained a mix of operatic, musical theatre, popular songs from Gershwin and a fine line in Irish ballads. Her gloriously pure soprano voice brought the audience to their feet in ovation and acclamation.

In December 2008 at the Mount Wolseley Hotel, Tullow, Co. Carlow, Caroline made her debut with the Celtic Divas (Regina Hanley, Debra Stuart). The 3 sopranos delighted their huge audience and also raised over 8,000 Euro for Irish Cancer Research. So successful was this concert that the Divas returned to the same venue in December 2009 and raised another sizeable amount for this very worthy cause.

Also in December 2008, Caroline featured in a performance at Christ Church Cathedral entitled “The Winter Garden”. This was a unique evening of song and spoken word with a Christmas theme. Highlights included “O Holy Night”, “The Coventry Carol” and extracts from works by Patrick Kavanagh, Sean Dunne and Brendan Kennelly. A year later in December 2009, Caroline performed to a full house at Christ Church Cathedral in “Christmas Voices”.

In March 2009, Caroline together with her fellow students at the Music Department of the Waterford Institute of Technology presented an evening of music by the Waterford born composer, William Vincent Wallace (1812 – 1865). Caroline sang the well-known aria “Scenes that are brightest” and formed part of a duet for the piece “Sainted Mother”, both from his most famous opera, Maritana.

Recently, in an evening of the music of William Vincent Wallace, Caroline sang the well-known aria “Scenes that are brightest” and the beautiful “Sainted Mother”, both from Maritana.

Click Here to Listen to Soprano, Caroline Reid O’Brien